Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDP14216’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Dianthus  plant designated ‘KLEDP14216’ having purple and dark-red double flowers and a mainly upright plant habit with little drooping, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDP14216’.

BACKGROUND

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus,botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and hereinafter referred toby the variety name ‘KLEDP14216’. ‘KLEDP14216’ originated from across-pollination between the proprietary female Dianthus parent ‘DCP2006 0122’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Dianthus parent ‘DCP2007 0092’ (unpatented) in May 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany.

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEDP14216’ wasselected from the group of plants in May 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany. InOctober 2009, ‘KLEDP14216’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative cuttings. ‘KLEDP14216’ was found to reproduce true to type insuccessive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany viavegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Purple and dark-red double flowers; and    -   2. A little hanging character but first upright, stems and        flower stems are more hanging from beginning of the flowering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph ofa plant approximately 10 to 12-weeks old and grown in a glass greenhousein Stuttgart, Germany.

The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

The photograph shows the whole plant habit, including flowers, foliage,and buds of ‘KLEDP14216’ taken in April 2012.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEDP14216’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 5-month old plants grown in agreenhouse in May 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition(2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Botanical.—Dianthus caryophyllus.        -   Common.—Pot carnation.        -   Designation.—‘KLEDP14216’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety ‘DCP 2006            0122’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety ‘DCP 2007            0092’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative stem cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—14 to 16 days.        -   Root description.—White and fine.        -   Rooting habit.—Lanceolate.        -   Plant form.—Potted and hanging plant.        -   Plant height.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—25.0 cm to 27.0 cm.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Stem.—Solid.        -   Length.—8.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Number of internodes per stem.—3 to 4.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm.        -   Node length.—0.2 cm.        -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS N137B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.7 cm to 0.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:            RHS 137B.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface:            RHS N137D.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS N137A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Double, round, small spray.        -   Flower position.—Slightly above the foliage.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early spring to fall.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—10 to 12 days.        -   Number of flowers per spray.—2 to 4.        -   Buds.—Length: 1.3 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: RHS 187A. Extrusion of the styles at            bud stage: Absent.        -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals and arrangement: Greater than 30            and arranged in several whorls. Corolla height: 1.6 cm to            2.0 cm. Petal length: 4.0 cm. Petal width: 2.0 cm. Petal            shape: Spoon-shaped. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Acute.            Petal margin: Crenate, depth is medium. Petal texture (both            upper and lower surfaces): Satiny. Petal color: Immature:            Upper surface: RHS 46B. Lower surface: RHS 185B. Mature:            Upper surface: RHS 46A. Lower surface: RHS 185A.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals: Composed of 4 to 5 fused sepals.            Calyx height: 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm. Calyx diameter (at the            apex): 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. Calyx shape: Campanulate. Sepal            apex shape: Acute. Sepal texture (both upper and lower            surfaces): Smooth. Sepal color: Upper surface: RHS N77A.            Lower surface: RHS 137B.        -   Epicalyx.—Position of the outer lobes in relation to the            calyx: Adpressed. Apex shape of inner and outer lobes:            Acute. Length: 0.9 cm.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Weak.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS N137A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 3 to 5. Filament length: 0.4            cm to 0.6 cm. Filament color: RHS 155A. Anther length:            0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 26D.            Pollen amount: Few.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Pistil length: 1.5 cm to            1.7 cm. Style length: 0.1 cm. Style color: RHS N155B. Stigma            shape: Filamentous. Stigma color: RHS 187A. Ovary size: 0.7            cm to 0.9 cm. Ovary shape: Ovate. Ovary color: RHS 145A.            Ovary texture: Smooth.-   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDG14216’ is a distinct variety of Dianthus and is distinguished fromits parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEDP14216’ ‘DCP 2006 0122’ ‘DCP 2007 0092’ Flower colorPurple and dark-red Dark-red Purple Plant habit Little drooping UprightDrooping

‘KLEDP14216’ is a distinct variety of Dianthus and is most similar tothe commercial Dianthus variety ‘Rubin’ (patent status unknown).Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDP14216’‘Rubin’ Plant habit Little drooping Upright Flower type DoubleSemi-double

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated‘KLEDP14216’ as illustrated and described herein.